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Library prepares for Sparks visit

The Columbia County Library expects many fans to turn out for one of its most popular authors this month.

Bestselling writer Nicholas Sparks has agreed to speak at an Oct. 26 event as part of a tour promoting his 18th novel, The Longest Ride, which was released Sept. 24.

Regional Library Director Mary Lin Maner said the library had been working to bring Sparks – the library’s top circulating author – to the Augusta area for about two years and she was thrilled when they finally got confirmation from the author’s publicist.

Library officials said tickets are required to attend. The public can reserve tickets through EventBrite.com, library offficials said.

As of last week, more than 1,800 people had reserved tickets for the Sparks’ speech and book-signing, forcing library officials to move the event to the Lady Antebellum Pavillion, said Jeanne Upchurch, the library’s administrative coordinator.

“The response has been tremendous,” she said.

David Hutchison, owner of The Book Tavern, will be there with copies of Sparks’ latest novel, and some of his other releases, to sell during a book signing by the author.

In anticipation of the Sparks appearance, the library has a month of events planned.

On the next two Tuesday nights, the library will screen movies that have been adapted from his novels. Each following Thursday night there will be a meeting to discuss the differences between each film and the novel from which it was derived. The last movie will be screened Oct. 25.

At least eight of Sparks’ novels have been turned into films, including Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook and Dear John.